Wang Guang: How to Correctly Understand the Macro-Historical View
The macro-historical perspective is an iconic and important theoretical category proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping since the 18th National Congress of the CPC. Its conception is lofty, its connotation rich, and its profundity vast. It establishes ideological guidance and provides a fundamental follow-back for how we study history, observe the world, and move toward the future on the new journey in the New Era.
Currently, many studies in academia hold that the basic connotation of the macro-historical perspective is to stand within deep and expansive dimensions of time and space, viewing the entirety of human history as a whole and an organic developmental process, while conducting long-term, broad-visioned, and multi-angled observation and cognition of history. This is undoubtedly correct. However, if one merely stops at this view, one cannot fully grasp the profound connotation of the macro-historical perspective, let alone distinguish it in essence from the "macro-history" [1] proposed by some Western scholars, as well as concepts such as the "total history perspective" [2] or "global history perspective."
The essence and foundation of the macro-historical perspective is historical materialism, and no other historical outlook. How does history become "macro-history," and how does it become a developing whole? From the standpoint of historical materialism, the entire history of human society is, first and foremost, the history of productive practice. The contradictory movement between the productive forces and the relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, drives history forward toward increasingly higher social forms. The history of all other fields and sectors—including political activities, social interaction, cultural exchange, and ideology—must derive its explanation from the history of production. Especially since the Great Geographical Discoveries [3], as the world has increasingly become an indivisible whole in a true sense, there is an even greater need for a macro-historical perspective rooted in historical materialism to explore the laws of human historical development.
Historical materialism broke through all other paradigms that sought the essence of history outside of material production. it provides a solid theoretical framework and internal support for us to view the complex and manifold history of humanity as a macro-history that is internally connected, complete, and unified. Historical materialism is the fundamental method for us Communists to understand and grasp history. It is precisely by standing at the theoretical height of historical materialism—which is thorough and grasps the essence of history—and by combining it with the new historical background and requirements of the times, that General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed this important theoretical category of the macro-historical perspective. It can be said that the macro-historical perspective lies not only in its "macro" scale, but even more so in its theoretical thoroughness. In short, historical materialism is the theoretical foundation of the macro-historical perspective, and the macro-historical perspective is the product of historical materialism in our times.
The macro-historical perspective is an important guide for researching history. The proposal of the macro-historical perspective possesses strong practical relevance and a powerful corrective effect against the phenomena of fragmented, narrow, and short-sighted historical research. Historical research should originally "connect thoughts across a thousand years and cast its vision over ten thousand miles" [4], possessing an open horizon and breadth of mind. However, for a period of time, fragmented historical research has been quite prevalent, exhibiting to varying degrees problems such as narrow research horizons, obsession with historical details, rejection of historical laws, and neglect of theoretical thinking. There are roughly two reasons for these phenomena: first, since the drastic changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the world socialist movement fell into a low ebb, leading some to believe there are no laws to speak of in historical development, thus becoming entangled in the surface and details of history; second, under the influence of Western postmodernism and other trends of thought, they disdain "grand narratives" [5] and place one-sided emphasis on historical textual criticism and positivist historiography. Yet, these are ultimately short-sighted practices that fail to see the overall situation of history and ignore the long term. The development of history and practice has repeatedly shown that the macro-historical perspective is the proper vision and fundamental way for people to view, study, and write history. Otherwise, it will only lead to the academic chaos of "mistaking a fine hair for a cartload of firewood, or rubble for pearls and jade" [6], where "the bronze bells are discarded while the earthen pots thunder" [7].
The macro-historical perspective is a strategic vision for observing the world. The macro-historical perspective is a brand-new theoretical form achieved by historical materialism in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It reflects the fundamental standpoint and basic theoretical views of historical materialism while carrying the unique theoretical characteristics and the light of truth of the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The world today is undergoing great changes unseen in a century. These changes are not limited to a single moment, event, country, or region, but represent a profound and expansive change of the times." The era we live in is the swiftest in development, most diverse in change, and most complex in situation in human history. Humanity faces unprecedented development opportunities while also confronting many unpredictable risks and challenges. How can we accurately understand the great changes unseen in a century? How do we profoundly summarize the internal mechanism of the continuous revival of Chinese civilization? How can we deeply explicate the world-historical significance of Chinese-path modernization and the new form of human civilization? This series of major theoretical and practical questions are not simple academic issues; they all require an expansive and profound historical vision and strategic thinking to address. For this reason, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly pointed out that we must establish a macro-historical perspective, analyzing the mechanisms of evolution and exploring the laws of history from the long river of history, the tide of the times, and the global winds and clouds, so as to propose corresponding strategies and tactics.
The macro-historical perspective is an important guarantee for moving toward the future. The further back into the past one can see, the further into the future one can see. The macro-historical perspective provides an important guide for us to more deeply summarize historical experience, reveal historical laws, and lead the trend of development. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must firmly establish a macro-historical perspective, grasping the pulse and correct direction of world history with a broader horizon and longer-term vision, and clearly recognize the macro-logic and macro-trends of our country's social development and the development of human society." Looking back at world history, we see that since the English Bourgeois Revolution, capitalism has traversed more than 300 years of development globally. During its peak, the Soviet Union collapsed and Eastern Europe underwent drastic changes. The bourgeoisie "congratulated one another by flicking the dust off their caps" [8], believing they had completely eliminated the "specter" of communism and that the Western liberal-democratic system, as the model for human institutions, had brought the "end of history." However, the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics shattered this illusion. The continuous struggle of all Chinese people has made China the world's second-largest economy, with people’s living standards and international influence constantly rising. Contrary to the chaos of distorted democracy, policy failure, social disorder, and governance malfunction in Western countries, socialist China has long maintained the "two miracles" of rapid economic development and long-term social stability.
Viewed through the macro-historical perspective, since the beginning of the New Era, the contrast of "the East rising and the West declining" and "order in China and chaos in the West" has become even more distinct. Amidst these great shifts, movements, and changes in world history, General Secretary Xi Jinping has required us to deepen our understanding of the laws governing high-quality development and the construction of the new development pattern within the context of the new round of technological revolution, the global economic landscape, and the staged characteristics of our country's development. He has urged us to deepen our understanding of the strategic thought of the Party's self-revolution by comparing the fates of Marxist parties worldwide and the realistic tests faced by our Party in its long-term governance. We must comprehensively and systematically propose scientific concepts and effective countermeasures to solve realistic problems, thereby laying a solid foundation for ensuring the steady and sustained progress of Chinese-path modernization and the realization of the great cause of national rejuvenation.